Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Mitsubishi Heavy Industries”) would like to inform you of the following changes in the general manager (hereinafter referred to as “GM”) who will be in charge of “Mitsubishi Heavy Industries East Baseball Club (hereinafter referred to as “East”)” and “Mitsubishi Heavy Industries West Baseball Club (hereinafter referred to as “West”)”.
Hirotaka Okawa, who was appointed as GM in 2021, integrated the four teams that had been active until then, Hiroshima, Kobe/Takasago, Nagoya, and Yokohama, in line with the start of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sports Challenge in the same year, and led the reorganization into a two-team system (East and West). In 2024, he led East to its first victory in the 95th Intercity Baseball Tournament. Starting with the 2026 season, Shinichiro Nakane will be appointed as the new GM.
Hirotaka Okawa’s comments are as follows.
“There were mixed feelings of sadness and joy about the integration and reorganization of the four teams, but under the banner of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sports Challenge, the elites who strongly desire to win came together to make the team “ever-winners”.The job of GM was a heavy responsibility, but the greatest joy was watching the newly formed teams “East” and “West” grow year by year.East competed against the city. They achieved top 8 in 2023, championship in 2024, runner-up in 2021 in the Japan Championship, top 4 in 2022 and 2024, and top 8 in the city competition in 2024, and top 8 in the Japan Championship in 2022.Both teams will continue to aim for victory, and I hope that they will continue to grow even further under the new GM Nakane.
Shinichiro Nakane, who will be newly appointed GM, has the following comments.
“I am humbled to have been appointed as the general manager of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Hardball Baseball Club. While inheriting the solid foundation and history established by GM Okawa, I will not be afraid to take on new challenges and will work hard to improve the corporate value of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group through victories for both teams and sports activities.”
From 2021, the Group has expanded its support system for sports activities to include all members of the company and group, and is supporting the East and West baseball clubs, Japan Rugby League One’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sagamihara Dynaboars, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marathon Club, soccer J League’s Urawa Red Diamonds, women’s soccer WE League’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Urawa Reds Ladies, and para-athletes (powerlifting). Going forward, we will continue to vigorously promote the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Sports Challenge and use sports to improve our CSR/community and social contribution, employee engagement, and corporate brand, and use the power of sports to open up a future.
